Singaporean fencer Amita Berthier: “Fencing is akin to playing chess”

As the countdown to the Paris Olympics and Paralympics 2024 begins, we speak to some of the top female athletes in Team Singapore’s contingent. Representing a diverse array of sporting disciplines including track and field, fencing, archery, and equestrian, these exceptional women epitomise the spirit of determination, skill, and perseverance. They tell us a little bit more about their sport, learning from setbacks, and how it feels to represent the nation in Paris.

Amita Berthier came across fencing by chance during a school holiday when she was six years old, and immediately fell in love with the sport.

“My passion for fencing has grown immensely over the last 18 years. I have learnt to grow both mentally and physically with every competition, and not to take things for granted. We only have such a short lifespan as high performance athletes, so I try to make the most out of my journey at every competitive opportunity,” she says.

Ranked 28th in the world in women's foil, Amita is the first Singapore female fencer to qualify for the Olympics, and will be representing Team Singapore at the Paris Olympics this year.

Given that this is your second summer Olympics, how does it feel to be representing Singapore on the world stage?

It means a lot to me as it not only shows consistency in my training by qualifying for the second time in a row, but also shows improvement from the previous cycle, as this qualification was based on world ranking. It is a testament to highlighting that we may come from a small country, but we have the tenacity to repeat good performances and qualify for the grandest stage of competition.

Can you share some of the biggest challenges you faced and the lessons you have learnt?

One of the biggest challenges I have faced has been the expectations and goals I set for myself. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to deal with disappointing results and to pull myself back up, and restart “the engine”. I think it is important to know how much you can push yourself, when to take a step back, reflect, and then move forward again without letting negative thoughts control your mindset.

Reflecting on your experience at the Tokyo Olympics, how has it influenced your preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics?

Competing at the highest level for my sport at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and meeting the eventual Olympic champion in the first round was definitely humbling, but instead of beating myself up about it I took it as an opportunity to grow and be consistently motivated to come back strong in this upcoming games. I have had the time to think, reflect, re-strategise in terms of preparation and possess a stronger mindset.

Throughout your fencing career, you’ve had to balance your athletic pursuits with academic commitments, including attending the University of Notre Dame. How did you manage this balance?

Balancing sports and academics was challenging in the beginning. I was in a new environment pursuing my tertiary education, have had to adapt to a new culture and system. However, I was blessed to have a strong support system of coaches and professors in my University that worked together to make sure I had a somewhat flexible schedule that wouldn’t affect my fencing performance or my school results.

How do you balance the physical skill, mental agility, and tactical strategy required in fencing?

Fencing is akin to playing chess. It demands a significant amount of mental energy, stamina, and physical strength. You must understand yourself, anticipate your opponent’s moves, and possess both agility and quick thinking to make split-second decisions.

The trick is to adapt swiftly to your opponent, recover from deficits in matches within a short span, and maintain confidence in your ability to overcome any challenge. While many may possess similar technical skills, it is mental fortitude and tenacity that often make the difference between winning a medal and facing defeat.

What advice would you give to young athletes who aspire to follow in your footsteps and pursue their dreams in fencing or any other sport?

Believe in your dreams and pace yourself. Your passion for anything in life must burn bright and consistently. You need to be resilient, as there will be many “ falls” but the fire in the belly and your passion will see you overcome any obstacle. Own your dream as when you do, you will find the strength and the ability to look at all options and resolutions in a clear-minded manner along with that sense of conviction. Once you accomplish a milestone or break history you want to keep repeating it over and over again. Being patient and understanding the arduous efforts an athlete needs to put in to be at the top is crucial in one’s success.

Thus, be kind to yourself and pace yourself because your sporting journey or any journey that you embark on is full of ups and downs, shocks and surprises. Accept that . Use every setback to come back stronger than ever and hold it close to your heart that “ Possibilities can become realities”.